BHUBANESWAR: As political parties geared up for the by-poll to Bijepur assembly constituency, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday announced a Rs 1,250 crore pipeline-based irrigation project in Bargrah district of Odisha on his birth anniversary.
The project, named Gangadhar Meher Lift Canal System, is purported as a model project for the entire country.
“The project will use latest technologies in irrigation and developed as a model project for the entire country,” the chief minister said.
The announcement comes days ahead of the imposition of the model code of conduct as the date of the by-poll is expected to be declared by the Election Commission soon.
Augmentation of irrigation potential was a long-standing demand of the people of the area, which is a drought-prone and witness suicide by farmers regularly.
Stating that the state government accords topmost priority to agriculture, the chief minister said, “We are on course to create an additional irrigation potential of 10 lakh hectares in the state during the five year period by 2019”.
The Bijepur Lift Canal System, Naveen said, will irrigate a gross command area of about 32,000 hectares including 25,600 hectares in Kharif and 7,000 hectares in Rabi season. The project will pump water from Bargarh main canal through an 18 kilometer long underground rising main pipeline, where from irrigation will be provided through underground pipelines-based distribution system with outlets for every four hectares of land.
The Chief Minister has already announced Ritarani Sahu, widow of Congress MLA Subal Sahu as the BJD candidate for the by-poll, giving rise to strong resentment among a section of party men.
Meanwhile, birthday wishes poured in for Naveen who turned 71 today. Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter to wish the Odisha CM. “Birthday wishes to Odisha CM Shri Naveen Patnaik. I pray that he leads a long life blessed with good health,” PM’s post said.
Union minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas as well as Skill Development Dharmendra Pradhan, BJD MP Baijayant Panda and many leaders from across the country also wished him.